Instructors

Pilates Trainers

All the trainers at Calistoga Pilates have several years experience in Pilates and other modalities that support you in achieving strength, flexibility and a balanced structure.

Jill Hoff – PMA-CPT Senior Instructor/Owner

Jill has been teaching mind/body fitness classes in the Napa Valley for 25 years. Inspired by Pilates after healing a minor back injury, she became a certified instructor and started her own Pilates business in 1998. Her background includes PhysicalMind Institute, Polestar Pilates, Pilates Method Alliance, Nia (Black Belt Certified) as well as extensive studies in Yoga and various other movement modalities. Jill blends what she feels appropriate into her instruction depending on the person or group she is working with.

Ava holds multiple certifications, including Mat Certification through Physical Mind and Integrated Teacher Training (ITT) from Madeline Black in Mat and Apparatus. Her additional certificates include Active and Isolated Stretching and Pre/Post Natal Pilates from Carolyn Anthony’s Center for Women’s Fitness. Ava is also a certified Hendrickson Orthopedic Massage Therapist. Her style is a combination of great bedside manner with incredible knowledge about the body and delivers challenging yet safe workouts. She goes above and beyond for her clients supporting them not only in their physical aspiration but also in their endeavors outside the studio.

Liese loved playing competitive volleyball in high school and college, but walked away with a lot of injuries. After years of struggling with basic movement, she discovered that Pilates cured her of pain and strengthened her body. Motivated by this success, she began to develop a health and wellness practice. Liese graduated from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2007 as a Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor. In 2008, she studied under Master Teacher Ellie Herman in Brooklyn, NY and was comprehensively certified in Pilates. Since then, she’s been teaching Pilates to a wide range of clients and is always inspired to teach new clients and coach people through rehabilitation.

Fiona is a Northern California native, and has had a great love of movement and physical activity for as long as she can remember. She was first introduced to Pilates while pursuing a B.A. in Dance from Mills College in Oakland, California. She quickly realized the strength, stability and energy Pilates brought to both her dance practice and everyday life. It wasn’t until several years later that Fiona discovered the classical method of Pilates, and really fell in love. Fiona has completed an intensive 700 hour apprentice program and became certified under Master Teacher Dorothee VandeWalle, of Metropolitan Pilates Seattle and Martt Lawrence of the Pilates Center of San Francisco. With a passion for learning as well as teaching, Fiona maintains her commitment to her profession with continuing education and constant learning from her peers and the community around her. Fiona believes in living a healthy, balanced life – full of energy, encouragement, laughter and fun.

Yoga & TRX Instructors

Ulrika Engman – E-RYT 500

Ulrika is an Anusara-certified yoga teacher and Halprin Life-Art practitioner with 20 years teaching experience. Ulrika’s unique and empowering style blends the transformative power of yoga with sacred movement and therapeutic applications of alignment. She founded Yoga Journeys in 1999 and leads yoga workshops, teacher training programs and retreats worldwide.

Lonnie Eddin – Certified TRX Instructor

Lonnie is passionate about movement. His background includes TRX Training, personal training, hip hop, gymnastics, and HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). He is a caregiver by nature and enjoys working with a diverse population of fitness levels and capabilities.

Nicole Abiouness

Nicole began her yoga training in the Napa Valley under the guidance of Senior Iyengar teacher, Jaki Nett. She then focused her attention and studies on the more heart oriented practice of Anusara under the tutelage of Sianna Sherman, Desiree Rumbaugh, John Friend, and more. Nicole completed her teacher training in 2004 yet continues to attend retreats and workshops of various modalities to keep her classes lively, interesting and grounding, while focusing on proper alignment and breath work.

Natalie Diaz – Certified Yoga Instructor, RYT-200

As a life-long athlete, Natalie was brought to yoga via a knee injury while playing college soccer in Miami. Yoga provided her with the opportunity to connect with her body and calm her mind at a time when doing so was extremely difficult. She deepened her practice in March of 2017 upon the completion of her 200-hour yoga teacher training at 305 Yoga Miami Lakes, where she later began teaching. Since then, she has completed additional trainings in trauma-informed yoga and private yoga-instruction, and has taught classes to children and adults from all walks of life. Natalie truly believes in the healing powers of yoga. To her, it is so much more than a physical practice. It is a practice that allows everyone to experience the freedom that comes from remembering your true self… and having a little fun.